The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-09-19
COTTON CULTIVATION.
COMMUNICATED.

so little attentio-nor rather has been
so utterly neglected-on these
islands.
1t is true that the value of cotton
in the European markets has fallen
considerably of late years, and, for
certain descriptions, the cost of pro-
duction would be too great to war
rant any attempt at is introduction
here. A thorough knowledge of the
classes of seed required, however, to-
gether with n little experience IN
planting, is all that is wanted to
cause cotton planting TO become q
leading industry throughout this
group.
As an example of what is possible
here, it is sufficient to allude to what,
in few years, was accomplished at
Tahiti.
Prior to the year 1865 cotton cul-
tivation was a thing unknown on
that island. At about that period
an enterprising Englishman, the late
William Stewart, conceived the idea
of planting cotton on large scale.
The government of Tahiti, being
anxious TO see a new industry intro
duced, granted large concessions,
such rs immunity Of employees
from taxation for 20 years, also all
supplies for the plantation use were
to be exempt from duties. With
these promises from the Government
w. Stewart proceeded to England
where he quickly raised sufficient
money TO begin operations. In less
than year Chinese were imported
from Macao, and "Arorais, as they
are called, were obtained from the
Marshalls and other islands to the
westward, and cotton planting was
rapidly proceeded with. Cotton
being worth at that time from 2 shil-
lings to two and threepence per
pound in Europe, large profits were
made, and an impetus was given TO
all kinds of trade in consequence.
Stewart found imitators on a smaller
scale, and from that date cotton has
formed one of the principal articles
of export.
The industry thus inaugurated
rapidly spread to the neighboring
islands of Raiatea, Borabora, and
Huahine, as well as to the Mar
queseas, Touboui, and Cooks
groups, at all of which places, with
but one or two exceptions, are now
to be found cotton ginning machin-
cry driven by steam and water po-
wer.
Prices for cotton, however, as
above stated, have of late years de-
clined considerably in the home
markets, the fault being of the Plan
tiers themselves, for neglecting the
precaution Of securing fresh and
proper seed. Beginning with good
seed, year by year, but little care
was taken to plant only the best.
The consequence was it became
mixed and a general deterioration
took place in the cotton produced.
resulting, as a matter of course, in
reduced value in the markets of the
world.
Unlike the "upland cotton" grown
in America, which requires replant-
ing every year, or at most every two
years, the Sea Island description
$50 called from its being raised on
the islands off South Carolina) con-
tinues to bear, without replanting, 3
to years, and the natives fire.
quently allow their cotton TO run as
long as 5 and 6 years before at
tempting to replant, which accounts,
in large measure, for their reluct-
ance to uprooting their patches and
replanting with fresh seed.
Cotton cultivation, then, for
while, was to a certain extent neg
lected, and it is only during the
past year that planters have awak-
ened to the fact that they had either
to change their system or abandon
the cultivation of cotton as unpro-
fitable.
The result of the introduction, by
few, of new seed, one special
variety called Teas seed, the cot
ton from which recently brought as
much as 2 shilings per pound in
Liverpool, has been general up
roofing of old trees and replanting
with seeds of the best kinds. Cot
ton seed, from last quotations, was
worth "a to "A los. per ton in
Europe, or considerably more than
a good freight.
The climate and soil of the Ha-
waiian Islands,, being similar to that
of Tahiti and neighboring islands, it
is but reasonable to suppose that
cotton would succeed equally well
here. There are large tracts of
land already cleared for sugar plant
ing, available for cotton, which might
be planted at very little expense.
As already stated the first bust
ness of the planter would be to OBJ
tain only the best Sea Island seed,
of either the 1e1as,o or what is called
Mango, variety.